Today is Cyber Monday, a day in which the masses are encouraged to shop for online deals, largely during work, and dodge knockoff scams. Instead of leading you down the path of faux Fendi's, our Cyber Monday encourages secure purchases from independent artists and craftspeople with a tattoo twist.

I promised myself that I'd do some old fashioned letter writing this year and send out cards that will actually arrive before the holidays. So I spent (too much) time on Etsy and found these gems. Check 'em.

First up are the tattooed lady and man cut-out card packs (shown above) by artist Crankbunny, who also makes cool Victorian tattooed paper puppets. You can purchase a set of ten with either "Miss Suzy" or "Sir Craig" or get the set with 5 of each of them. As noted in the description: "Personalize each set too -- choosing what cut-out paper object each
character holds. Choose between a huge candy cane, a gift present, a
dreidel, or gold star that is each detailed with festive
glitter!" Yeah, glitter! Each set is $20 plus shipping.

Next, I'm diggin' the handmade Tattooed Sugar Skull cards by Vickilicious Designs in the UK. The snowflaked skull is "printed onto a silver mist card, pale blue/white dusted
with silver finished with ice blue jewel." Yeah jewels! It's blank inside and comes with the envelope. Customized cards are also available. Each one is 2.60 GBP(approximately
$4.15) plus shipping in the UK & internationally.

I also love this "Pierced Blue Matryoshka" greeting above by Alexandra Winthrop, who offers this design & tattooedgoddess giclee prints on her Etsy page. Yeah tattooed goddesses! The 5x7" "Pierced Blue Matryoska" card is "made using matte finish, 55lb, acid-free cardstock
and archival pigment inks. It comes with its own envelope & will ship
in an acid-free cellophane sleeve for added protection." Each one sells for $3.50 plus shipping.

Finally, my long time favorite, Sugar Beet Press's Tattoo Lady Holiday Card, with the words "Peace on Earth, Good Will To Men" illustrated within the backpiece. Yeah goodwill! They are A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"), printed on heavyweight watercolor paper, and are blank inside. Red envelopes are included. Each card is $3.50 and a ten pack is $22.50 plus shipping.